Planning Meetings

[Malcolm Robinson]

.

View the Northumberland Local Plan - Core Strategy.- Bedlington

Unfortunately The town Council were not able to attend the meeting because they had a Britain in Bloom prior engagement at the same venue!!

 

No Maggie there was only 3 of us at that, there are 9 councillors in total for West Bedlington Town Council.  

 

Also I have already put in a comprehensive reply to that whole document as a consultee  (Bedlingtonshire Development Trust) and consulted on the amendments to it.  This is in no way the original version!    

[Maggie/915]

It will be interesting moving forward.

[Maggie/915]

The interesting map at the Core Strategy meeting was the extra map not included in the shinny brochure or the map that included all the suggested development over the next 15 years or so !

The areas mentioned for possible consideration for development are :-

6744 the area of land in front of the Broadway House Farm and up to the Golf Club.

6773 the area of land behind Westlea from the Red House Farm.

6775 the area of land up to the Blue House and towards The Netherton Colliery Road.

6774 the area of land North of Hazelmere towards Choppington.

It seems under the Greenbelt planning initiative any land for development has to be put forward now.

One to watch!

If anyone wants that garden or brownfield site developed put it forward NOW.

After all that is what the farmer has done.

[Maggie/915]

Well done to Malcolm and Adam for

1) being open on this sight about their names

2) being prepared to represent Bedlington in an honest and straightforward way!

At least they cared about Britain in Bloom and making our favourite town beautiful.

Where were the others, did they not care!

That is accepting that no one knew the implication for West Bedlington that had been put forward after theCore Strategy was complete shiny brochure and all.

If any other Councillors care to comment that would be great and restore confidence.

After all a Parish council seems less powerful to me and only being able to discuss things at Full Council meetings seems to

'Wipe out' people who could help Bedlington.

Maybe someone can help me understand.

Democracy does not seem too powerful.

I look forward to the leader of the council commenting and explaining.

Or anyone other than our two favourite independents

[Adam Hogg]

6774 the area of land North of Hazelmere towards Choppington.

Is that not the Old Brickwork's/Tip that is full of Asbestos, cyanide and other Nasty products?

[Maggie/915]

Maybe Adam, not sure.

[Adam Hogg]

Well done to Malcolm and Adam for

1) being open on this sight about their names

2) being prepared to represent Bedlington in an honest and straightforward way!

At least they cared about Britain in Bloom and making our favourite town beautiful.

Where were the others, did they not care!

That is accepting that no one knew the implication for West Bedlington that had been put forward after theCore Strategy was complete shiny brochure and all.

If any other Councillors care to comment that would be great and restore confidence.

After all a Parish council seems less powerful to me and only being able to discuss things at Full Council meetings seems to

'Wipe out' people who could help Bedlington.

Maybe someone can help me understand.

Democracy does not seem too powerful.

I look forward to the leader of the council commenting and explaining.

Or anyone other than our two favourite independents

Just so everyone knows.

The structure of the Town Council has been changed by a vote of 5 - 4 to abolish all committees and sub groups and replace with one or two full council meetings a month.

Needless to say all the independents voted against the move.

[Maggie/915]

Politics is a funny game!

Look at the interest in the number of views!

The truth of any situation will come to the fore..

[Keith Scantlebury]

Just so everyone knows.

The structure of the Town Council has been changed by a vote of 5 - 4 to abolish all committees and sub groups and replace with one or two full council meetings a month.

Needless to say all the independents voted against the move.

So this means snap decisions will be made on the spot, without any research or consultation. ?

[Maggie/915]

Who gains by the change?

Seems to me Bedlington will loose.

Why would these people not want research and consultation?

Are they afraid of democracy.

[ex Bedlingtonian]

Who gains by the change?

Seems to me Bedlington will loose.

Why would these people not want research and consultation?

Are they afraid of democracy.

Course they are.

Edited December 17, 2013 by ex Bedlingtonian

[Maggie/915]

Maybe this will stir people to vote!

Or maybe get actively involved in politics.

Tony Benn in the summer talking to Johnnie Walker in Edinburgh said he used his own moral compass.

We all know when an argument or situation is fair and above board

We may disagree strongly but we still accept the other viewpoint.

You just need to watch children when they feel unfairly treated. That is when they react strongly.

My sincere hope is that this current situation is explained and rationalised.

Not just passed over until electioneering takes over.

[ex Bedlingtonian]

Needless to say all the independents voted against the move.

So what party do the others represent?  Let me guess ...........

[Maggie/915]

Who ever they are they are difficult to get hold of, present company accepted.

A school friend is trying desperately to contact councillors, and apart from our 'Two Amigo's' has not managed to contact anyone.

She will not give up, but between websites and county hall no one seems to have any information they are prepared to share.

[ex Bedlingtonian]

Who ever they are they are difficult to get hold of, present company accepted.

A school friend is trying desperately to contact councillors, and apart from our 'Two Amigo's' has not managed to contact anyone.

She will not give up, but between websites and county hall no one seems to have any information they are prepared to share.

Nothing new there then.

[Maggie/915]

Success my friend has had two visits.

Maybe people do want to help local folk.

[ex Bedlingtonian]

But it had to be raised here first, shouldn't have had to be.

[John Fox (foxy)]

Every Town needs a Council Chief like this.

A maverick mayor elected after promising to slash council spending,

clear the streets of yobs and ditch politically correct services is the

torchbearer for how towns should be run.

On his first morning as Mayor of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, Peter

Davies cut his salary from £73,000 to £30,000 then closed the council's

newspaper for "peddling politics on the rates".

Now three weeks into his job, Mr Davies is pressing ahead with plans he

hopes will see the number of town councillors cut from 63 to just 21,

saving taxpayers £800,000.

Mr Davies said: "If 100 senators can run the United States of America,

I can't see how 63 councillors are needed to run Doncaster".

He has withdrawn Doncaster from the Local Government Association and

the Local Government Information Unit, saving another £200,000. Mr

Davies said, "They are just talking shops".

"Doncaster is in for some serious untwinning. We are twinned with

probably nine other cities around the world and they are just for

people to fly off and have a binge at the council's expense".

The mayor's chauffeur-driven car has also been axed by Mr Davies and

the driver given another job. Mr Davies, born and bred in Doncaster,

swept to power in the May election with 24,244 votes as a candidate for

the English Democrats, a party that wants tight immigration curbs, an

English Parliament and a law forcing every public building to fly the

flag of St. George.

He has promised to end council funding for Doncaster's International

Women's Day, Black History Month and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and

Transgender History Month.

He said, "Politicians have got completely out of touch with what people

want.

"We need to cut costs. I want to pass on some savings I make in reduced

taxes and use the rest for things we really need, like improved

children's services".

Mr Davies has received messages from well wishers across the country

and abroad as news of his no-nonsense approach spreads.

Now it's your chance to spread this most sensible way to run a town council.

Edited December 19, 2013 by foxy

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

Foxy - Googled 'Mayor of Doncaster' as I enjoy reading about those that deviate from the political norm. Those that say a lot but mean nowt. Looks like Mr Davies tried to too hard to make his point. He resigned from the English Democrat party, going Independent, forcing an election but lost under his new party.  

Labour's Ros Jones has won the race to become Doncaster's elected mayor.

Ms Jones secured 25,364 votes to see off the challenge of current mayor Peter Davies, standing as an independent, in a tight contest.

The result was decided on a count of second preferences after just 590 votes separated them on first preferences.

Ms Jones, who has been the councillor for Askern Spa ward for the past seven years, will become the town's first female and second Labour mayor.

Incumbent mayor Mr Davies came second after receiving 24,725 votes.

He stood as an independent candidate after quitting the English Democrat party in February over claims of an influx of new members joining from the British National Party.

Meetings 'horrendous'

He added: "I will not miss the council meetings, which are horrendous in the extreme more often than not."

The turnout for the vote was 28%, with 62,132 voting out of an electorate of 223,608. In 2009 the turnout was 39%.

[John Fox (foxy)]

Council Meeting 6.30 Thursday night Maggie will you be there?

[Maggie/915]

Sounds a good idea Foxy.

[John Fox (foxy)]

Just so everyone knows.

The structure of the Town Council has been changed by a vote of 5 - 4 to abolish all committees and sub groups and replace with one or two full council meetings a month.

Needless to say all the independents voted against the move.

And  little more than three weeks after abolishing all sub groups and committees, the Chairman of last nights meeting suggested setting up a Sub Group on three separate occasions to look at  other issues. He was also challenged by one of the councillors  regarding the way the voting was conducted at the last meeting, there was some confusion as to wether all councillors had been given the opportunity to vote on the issue of sub groups and committees. The councillor then asked all those present  "Can anyone remember the vote being taken"?  It appears that the only people who could were the Chairman and the Town Clerk who had included it in the minutes. It was then proposed by councillors S Tyler and Chairman P Hedley that we "move on". I get the feeling its not only the public who can't get answers but also some of the councillors who happen to be in the minority group.

[Maggie/915]

I would love to say something positive about last night but cannot.

The situation was unbelievable.

A view on how not to run a meeting was our conclusion .

Sadly there is no video or recording of the process for posterity.

[Keith Scantlebury]

Planning meetings !!!   ????   Do Bernicia actually apply for any planning up there ?   Is Bernicia a social landlord or an anti social wrecking ball ?   Recent developments in Burnside suggest the latter.  They announce great improvements then casually knock on the doors of 4 tenants and tell them their properties are to be knocked down to make way for a car park.  AHEM !!!, this is news to the powers that be and news to those involved in the consultation process.

[Malcolm Robinson]

Keith,

 

The statutory consultative authority for that will be the East Bedlington Parish Council. 

We have just seen even when Town and parish councils put in concerns and votes to deny permission the NCC planners take little or even no notice. 

Is Bernicia now more or less responsive to community needs after their recent reorganisation?